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Built as the MONTEREY for Matson Line in 1932 Chandris' BRITANIS was a remarkable vessel. She was, for some time, one of the most popular and relatively inexpensive cruise ships plying out of Miami and Montego Bay.

Ian, in October 2000 she sank in heavy weather off South Africa while under tow by a tug taking her to Indian breakers. Apparently she developed a leak.
There had been an effort in San Francisco, Matson's home port, to turn her into a hotel and museum, but that effort was unsuccessful.

Reading these mentions of the old MONTERAY reminded me of the fact that as a child I went on board her in Tahiti in march 1957 with my father she was a sister ship to the MARAPOSA if memory serves me correctly. Somewhere I have a menu from her at this time it was certainly quite a lot more up market than the dear old SOUTHERN CROSS which we were making our way to NZ on at the time.
She was in her prime in those days and was certainly a very lovely lady, a fitting end perhaps not to be caught without her make-up.